Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A clearing section includes a counter for measuring a period up to the reset of contents set by means of an operation panel to initial values. If a position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a first position, the clearing section starts measuring the period by means of the counter from the first entry made to the operation panel. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, the clearing section executes an automatic clear processing to reset the contents set by means of the operation panel to the initial values. On the other hand, the clearing section cancels the execution of the automatic clear processing if the position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, it has been about to pay attention to physicallyhandicapped operators in the field of business equipments such ascopiers and facsimile apparatuses. One of objects of attention is aninput operation unit installed in business equipments. This inputoperation unit generally has an angle set to a substantially horizontalone for physically normal people who operate while standing. In the casewhere the input operation unit is provided with a liquid crystal display(LCD) panel, the LCD panel installed in this type of input operationunit has a narrow view angle and illumination light reflects at theouter surface of the panel. Thus, particularly for an operator whooperates while being seated in a wheel chair, the visibility of theinput operation unit is poor.

In view of the above problems, a technology for the construction of acontrol panel provided in an image forming apparatus to rotatably mountthe control panel on the front surface of the image forming apparatusvia a rotary shaft to make an angle of inclination of the control panelchangeable has been proposed with a view to improving the operability ofthe input operation unit for physically handicapped operators, forexample, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 2004-287453,H11-119498 and H11-160938.

However, the image forming apparatuses disclosed in the abovepublications are constructed to merely change the angle of inclinationof the control panel, and there has been room for further improvement inoperability for physically handicapped people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems residing in the prior art, an object of thepresent invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having abetter operability for physically handicapped people.

In order to accomplish the above object, the invention is directed to animage forming apparatus, comprising an operation display unit mounted onan apparatus main body such that an angle of inclination thereof tohorizontal direction is adjustable and adapted to display variousoperation images; a detecting unit for detecting the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit; and a support operationexecuting unit for executing a specified operation to support aphysically handicapped user when the detecting unit detects that thestate of the operation display unit has been adjusted from an initial

With this construction, the operation display unit is mounted on theapparatus main body such that the angle of inclination thereof tohorizontal direction is adjustable. When the detecting unit detects theposition of the operation display unit to have been adjusted from theinitial state, a specified support function is executed to improveoperability for physically handicapped people. In other words,physically handicapped people can execute the support function only by asimple operation of adjusting the angle of inclination of the operationdisplay unit. Therefore, operability for physically handicapped peoplecan be improved.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon a reading of the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external construction of animage forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an internal construction of the imageforming apparatus.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic views showing an exemplary example of anoperation-panel supporting unit for enabling an operation panel to beselectively changeable between a first position where the operationpanel is laid and a second position where the operation panel is raisedat a specified angle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external construction of theimage forming apparatus when the operation panel is at the secondposition shown in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an automatic clear processing.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a processing of extending a period up tothe automatic clear processing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an external construction of animage forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic views showing an exemplary example of anoperation-panel driving unit for enabling an operation panel to beselectively changeable between a first position where the operationpanel is laid and a second position where the operation panel is raisedat a specified angle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an external construction of theimage forming apparatus when the operation panel is at the secondposition shown in FIG. 9C.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control construction of the imageforming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chat showing an exemplary first operation in the caseof forming an image on a recording sheet in the image forming apparatusof the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chat showing an exemplary second operation in the caseof forming an image on a recording sheet in the image forming apparatusof the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of animage forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an exemplary operation in the case offorming an image on a recording sheet in the image forming apparatus ofthe third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a normal operation image.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an enlarged operation image.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of animage forming apparatus according to a

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the operation of the image formingapparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams showing an operation image rotated by afirst pattern, wherein FIG. 20A shows a case where an angle ofinclination of an operation display unit 300 is 0° and FIG. 20B shows acase where the angle of inclination of the operation display unit isabout 20°.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are diagram showing an operation image rotated by asecond pattern, wherein FIG. 20A shows a case where an angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 is 0° and FIG. 20B shows acase where the angle of inclination of the operation display unit isabout 90°.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an external construction of animage forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus of thefifth embodiment with an operation panel raised.

FIGS. 24A to 24C are diagrams showing an operation-panel supportingunit.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the operation of the image formingapparatus of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of animage forming apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the operation of the image formingapparatus of the sixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus accordingto the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 isa perspective view showing an external construction of an image formingapparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sideview showing an internal construction of the image forming apparatus 10.

The image forming apparatus 10 is a tandem color copier and is providedwith a document reader 12 for reading a document image, a main unit 14arranged below the document reader 12 for forming the read documentimage on a recording sheet, a sheet discharging unit 16 which isdisposed at a side of the main unit 14 and onto which the recordingsheet having the image formed thereon in the main unit 14 is to bedischarged, and an operation panel 18 (operation display unit) arrangedat a front side of the top end of the main unit 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the document reader 12 includes an openable andclosable document pressing portion 20, a contact glass 22 on which adocument is to be placed, and an optical system unit 26 having a scanner24 arranged at a position facing the contact glass 22 at an upper partof the main unit 14 in such a manner as to be movable along theunderside of the contact glass 22. An automatic document feeder 28constructed to be integral to the document pressing portion 20 isarranged above the document pressing portion 20.

The main unit 14 includes a sheet cassette assembly 32 arranged at abottom part of a casing 30 for accommodating recording sheets, an imageforming assembly 34 arranged in the center of the casing 30 for formingan image on a recording sheet based on an image data obtained by thedocument reader 12, a first conveyance path 36 for conveying a sheetdispensed from the sheet cassette assembly 32 to the image formingassembly 34, a fixing unit 38 for fixing the image formed on therecording sheet in the image forming assembly 34 to the recording sheet,and a second conveyance path 40 for conveying the recording sheet aftera fixing processing to the sheet discharging unit 16.

The sheet cassette assembly 32 enables the replenishment of recordingsheets by being withdrawn from the casing 30 and includes a plurality ofcassettes 42, 44, 46, 48 for accommodating recording sheets of differentsizes. Any of the cassettes is selected in correspondence with thedocument size, and recording sheets contained in the selected cassetteare dispensed one by one by a feed roller toward the first conveyancepath 36.

The image forming assembly 34 includes a first image forming unit 50 forforming a black toner image, a second image forming unit 52 for forminga cyan toner image, a third image forming unit 54 for forming a magentatoner image, a fourth image forming unit 56 for forming a yellow tonerimage, and a transferring device 58 for transferring the toner imagesformed by the respective image forming units 50, 52, 54, 56 to therecording sheet.

Each of the image forming units 50, 52, 54, 56 includes a photosensitivedrum 60, a charging device 62 opposed to the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 60, an exposing device 64 opposed tothe outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 60downstream of the charging device 62, a developing device 66 opposed tothe outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 60downstream of the exposing device 64, and a cleaning device 68 opposedto the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 60downstream of the developing device 66. In the developing devices 66 ofthe respective image forming units, black toner, cyan toner, magentatoner and yellow toner are contained in toner boxes.

The transferring device 58 includes a drive roller 70, a driven roller72, a transfer belt 74 mounted on the drive roller 70 and the drivenroller 72, and four transfer rollers 76 that can be pressed into contactwith the photosensitive drums 60 of the respective image forming unitsat positions downstream of the respective developing devices 66 with thetransfer belt 74 therebetween. In this transferring device 58, therecording sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path 36 iselectrostatically attached to the transfer belt 74 rotatedcounterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the drive roller 70 driven by anunillustrated drive motor and conveyed to a downstream side, and thetoner images are transferred thereto at the positions of the transferrollers 76 of the respective image forming units 50, 52, 54, 56.

The first conveyance path 36 is for conveying the recording sheetdispensed from the sheet cassette assembly 32 toward the transferringdevice 58 and includes a plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers 78disposed at specified positions, and a pair of registration rollers 80disposed before the transferring device 58 for adjusting timings of animage forming operation in the image forming assembly 34 and a sheetfeeding operation.

It should be noted that an unillustrated registration sensorconstructed, for example, by a photointerrupter is provided before thepair of registration rollers 80. When the leading end of the recordingsheet is conveyed to such a position as to be held in contact with theregistration rollers 80, an electromagnetic clutch is shut off inaccordance with an output signal from the registration sensor to stoprotating the pairs of conveyance rollers 78, whereby the conveyance ofthe recording sheet is temporarily stopped.

The fixing unit 38 is for fixing the toner images transferred to therecording sheet in the image forming assembly 34 to the recording sheetby heating, and includes a fixing roller 84 heated by a built-in heaterand a pressure roller 86 disposed to be in pressing contact with thefixing roller 84.

The second conveyance path 40 is for conveying the recording sheet aftera fixing processing in the fixing unit 38 to the sheet discharging unit16, and includes a plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers 88 arrangedat specified positions and a pair of discharge rollers 90 arranged at anexit side. The recording sheets having conveyed through the secondconveyance path 40 after the fixing processing are successively stackedon the sheet discharging unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 18 is so mounted in a recessedspace 94 of a frame 92 constituting part of the casing 30 such that theposition thereof is selectively changeable to a first position where theoperation panel 18 is at a specified angle to a horizontal planeidentical with a floor surface (laid state) and a second position wherethe operation panel 18 is at a larger angle than the first position(raised state at a specified angle).

The operation panel 18 includes a liquid crystal display 96 arrangedsubstantially in the center, a numeric pad 98 arranged adjacent to andat the right side of the liquid crystal display 96, a start button 100arranged adjacent to and at the right side of the numeric pad 98, and afunction button 102 arranged adjacent to and at the left side of theliquid crystal display 96. It should be noted that a construction formaking the position of the operation panel 18 selectively changeablebetween the first position and the second position is described later.

The numerical pad 98 is for setting the number of copiers to be made andthe like, and the start button 100 is for instructing the start of acopying operation. Further, the function button 102 is for a modechangeover between a plurality of modes implementable in the imageforming apparatus 10.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic views showing an exemplary construction ofan operation-panel supporting unit for making the position of theoperation panel 18 selectively changeable to the first position wherethe operation panel 18 is laid and to the second position where theoperation panel 18 is raised at a specified angle.

An operation-panel driving device 110 is comprised of shafts 112, 114coaxially extending along transverse direction from the opposite sidesurfaces of a front end portion of the operation panel 18 and rotatablymounted on the frame 92 (see FIG. 1) constituting part of the casing 30as shown in FIG. 3A, and an oil damper 118 mounted between the backsurface of the operation panel 18 and a supporting frame 116 disposed inthe casing 30 as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

The oil damper 118 is constructed such that the leading end of acylinder 120 is rotatably mounted in directions of arrows about amounting shaft 122 in parallel with the back surface of the operationpanel 18 and the leading end of a tubular member 126 is rotatablymounted in directions of arrows about a mounting shaft 124. The mountingshaft 124 is disposed in parallel with the mounting shaft 122 for thecylinder 120.

The operation panel 18 made rotatable by the operation-panel drivingdevice 110 is rotated between the first position where the operationpanel 18 is at an angle θ1 (θ1 may be 0°) to a horizontal plane Hidentical with the floor surface as shown in FIG. 3B and the secondposition where the operation panel 18 is at an angle θ2 (θ2>θ1 and θ2may be 90°) to the horizontal plane H by the action of a specifiedrotating force as shown in FIG. 3C.

More specifically, the operation panel 18 is made rotatable about theshafts 112, 114 by placing a fingertip at a recess 128 formed in themiddle of the rear end of the operation panel 18 to exert a rotatingforce about the shafts 112, 114. The operation panel 18 is set at thefirst position shown in FIG. 3B if an operator is a physically normalperson while being set at the second position shown in FIG. 3C if theoperator is a wheel-chaired person. FIG. 1 shows the image formingapparatus 10 when the operation panel 18 is at the first position shownin FIG. 3B, and FIG. 4 shows the image forming apparatus 10 when theoperation panel 18 is at the second position shown in FIG. 3C. It shouldbe noted that the second position shown in FIG. 3C is adjusted accordingto the sitting height of a wheel-chaired handicapped operator.

An angle sensor 130 for detecting whether or not the operation panel 18is at the second position is mounted on one shaft 112 of theoperation-panel driving device 110. This angle sensor 130 is constructedby a variable resistor such as a potentiometer for detecting a rotationangle of the operation panel 18. A resistance value of the angle sensor130 changes as the operation panel 18 is rotated, and the rotation angleof the operation panel 18 can be detected based on this changingresistance value.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment. The image formingapparatus 10 is provided with a controller 140 for controlling the imageforming operation. The controller 140 is constructed by a microcomputerincluding a CPU for executing a calculation processing, a ROM storing aprocessing program, data and the like, and a RAM for temporarily savingdata.

The controller 140 also controls operations in the document reader 12,the image forming assembly 34, the first conveyance path 36, the fixingunit 38 and the second conveyance path 40 in accordance with imageforming conditions such as the size of recording sheets, themagnification, the density and the number of copies to be made set bymeans of the operation panel 18.

The controller 140 is connected with an image memory 142 for savingimage data read by the document reader 12.

The controller 140 is also functionally provided with a positiondiscriminating section 141, a clearing section 145, a power supplychanging section 143 and a preheating section 147. It should be notedthat the controller 140 corresponds to a support operation executingunit as claimed.

The position discriminating section 141 discriminates whether theoperation panel 18 is at the first position where it is laid or at thesecond position where it is raised at the specified angle based on theresistance value of the angle sensor 130 that changes according to therotation angle of the operation panel 18.

More specifically, the position discriminating section 141 discriminatesthat the operation panel 18 is at the second position, for example, ifthe resistance value of the angle sensor 130 exceeds a predeterminedvalue while discriminating that the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition if the resistance value of the angle sensor 130 is equal to orbelow the predetermined value. Since the second position of theoperation panel 18 is adjusted according to the sitting height of awheel-chaired operator, the resistance value of the angle sensor 130 fordiscriminating that the operation panel 18 is at the second position isset in view of an angle range of the operation panel 18 to be adjusted.It should be noted that the position discriminating section 141 and theangle sensor 130 correspond to a detecting unit as claimed.

The clearing section 145 executes an automatic clear processing ofresetting the content of setting entered by means of the operation panel18 to an initial value in accordance with the discrimination result ofthe position discriminating section 141. More specifically, the clearingsection 145 includes a counter 1421 for measuring a time, and startscounting by means of the counter 1421 from the point of time when afirst entry is made by means of the operation panel 18 if the positiondiscriminating section 141 discriminates that the operation panel 18 isat the first position, and resets the content of setting entered bymeans of the operation panel 18 to the initial value when a count valuereaches a predetermined value.

On the other hand, the clearing section 145 stops executing theautomatic clear processing if the position discriminating section 141discriminates that the operation panel 18 is at the second position.

The power supply changing section 143 executes a transition processingto a sleep mode (hereinafter, “sleep mode transition processing”) inwhich the power supply to a specified mechanism including the operationpanel 18 is reduced or shut off in accordance with the discriminationresult of the position discriminating section 141. More specifically,the power supply changing section 143 includes a counter 1431 formeasuring a time, starts counting (corresponding to time measuring) bymeans of the counter 1431 from the point of time when a first entry ismade by means of the operation panel 18 if the position discriminatingsection 141 discriminates that the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition, and executes the sleep mode transition processing when a countvalue reaches a predetermined value.

On the other hand, the power supply changing section 143 stops executingthe sleep mode transition processing if the position discriminatingsection 141 discriminates that the operation panel 18 is at the secondposition.

In accordance with the discrimination result of the positiondiscriminating section 141, the preheating section 147 executes atransition processing to a preheating mode in which the power supply tothe fixing unit 38 is reduced (hereinafter, “preheating mode transitionprocessing”) for a power-saving purpose if no entry is made by means ofthe operation panel 18 even after the lapse of a predetermined time.

More specifically, the preheating section 147 includes a counter 1441for measuring a time, starts counting (corresponding to time measuring)by means of the counter 1441 from the point of time when a first entryis made by means of the operation panel 18 if the positiondiscriminating section 141 discriminates that the operation panel 18 isat the first position, and executes the preheating mode transitionprocessing when a count value reaches a predetermined value.

On the other hand, the preheating section 147 stops executing thepreheating mode transition processing if the position discriminatingsection 141 discriminates that the operation panel 18 is at the secondposition.

Next, the automatic clear processing by the controller 140 of the firstembodiment is described. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the automaticclear processing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the controller 140 clears the count value (writtenas CNT in FIG. 6) of the counter 1421 (Step S1), and judges whether ornot any entry has been to the operation panel 18 (Step S3) after thelapse of a predetermined time (e.g. 250 ms) corresponding to a countvalue “1” of the counter 1421 (YES in Step S2). If no entry is judged tohave been made (NO in Step S3), it is judged whether or not printing isin process and whether or not any error has occurred to the apparatus(Steps S4 and S5).

As a result of judgments, if printing is not in process and if no errorhas occurred to the apparatus (NO in Steps S4 and S5), the controller140 judges whether or not the operation panel 18 has been moved from thefirst position to the second position based on the resistance value ofthe angle sensor 130 (Step S6).

Unless the operation panel 18 has been moved (NO in Step S6), the countvalue of the counter 1421 is incremented by “1” (Step S7) and it isjudged whether or not the present count value has reached a referencevalue T (Step S8).

The controller 140 returns to the processing of Step S2 if the presentcount value is judged not to have reached the reference value T (NO inStep S8) while returning to the processing of Step S2 after clearing thecount value and the content of the entry made by means of the operationpanel 18 (Step S9) if the present count value is judged to have reachedthe reference value T (YES in Step S8).

On the other hand, the controller 140 returns to the processing of StepS2 after clearing the count value (Step S10) if any entry has been madeby means of the operation panel 18 (YES in Step S3), if printing is inprocess (YES in Step S4) or if any error has occurred to the imageforming apparatus 10 (YES in Step S5)

The controller 140 also returns to the processing of Step S2 afterclearing the count value (Step S10) if the operation panel 18 has beenmoved from the first position to the second position (YES in Step S6).In this way, if the operator is supposed to be a physically handicappedperson, the automatic clear processing of resetting the content of theentry made by means of the operation panel 18 to the initial value isnot executed.

The preheating mode transition processing and the sleep mode transitionprocessing by the controller 140 of the image forming apparatus 10 ofthis embodiment may be executed by setting the predetermined time inStep S1, for example, to 1 min. and replacing the processing of“clearing the entered content” in Step S2 by a processing of reducingthe power supply to the fixing unit 38 or the processing of reducing orshutting off the power supply to the specified mechanism including theoperation panel 18 in the flow chart shown in FIG. 6.

As described above, the automatic clear processing of resetting thecontent entered by means of the operation panel 18 to the initial value,the preheating mode transition processing or the sleep mode transitionprocessing is not executed if the operation panel 18 has been moved fromthe first position to the second position. Thus, the entry to theoperation panel 18 can be made without any limitation on an entryreceiving period if the operator is supposed to be a physicallyhandicapped person. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 can beconstructed to have a good operability also for physically handicappedpeople.

In addition to or instead of this embodiment, the present invention maybe embodied as described in (1) to (6) below.

In the first embodiment, the executions of the automatic clearprocessing, the sleep mode transition processing and the preheating modetransition processing are stopped if the operation panel 18 has beenmoved from the first position to the second position. Instead ofstopping these processings, periods up to the automatic clear processingand the other processings may be extended.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a processing of extending the period upto the automatic clear processing. A point of difference of thisprocessing to the processing shown in FIG. 6 is that, instead of theprocessing in Step S10 of clearing the count value of the counter 1421if the operation panel 18 has been moved from the first position to thesecond position in Step S6 of FIG. 6, the reference value T to becompared with the present count value is made larger only by t1(processing in Step S21) as shown in FIG. 7. This count value t1 is avalue corresponding, for example, to three or five min.

Since the extended period needs to be reset to an initial value if theoperation panel 18 is returned from the second position to the firstposition, a processing of “the controller 140 judging based on theresistance value of the angle sensor 130 whether or not the operationpanel 18 has been moved from the second position to the first position(Step S13)” and a processing of making the reference value T to becompared with the present count value smaller only by t1 (Step S14)” ifthe operation panel 18 has been moved (YES in Step S13) are performedbetween Steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 6. If the operation panel 18 is judgedto have not been moved in Step S13 (NO in Step S13), a processing ofjudging whether or not any entry has been made by means of the operationpanel 18 (Step S15)” corresponding to the one in Step S3 of FIG. 6 isperformed.

In this way, if the operation panel 18 has been moved from the firstposition to the second position, the period for receiving the entry bymeans of the operation panel 18 (entry enabling period) is made longeronly by, e.g. three or five min. than in the normal case (case where theoperation panel 18 is at the first position). Thus, a possibility ofclearing the content entered by means of the operation panel 18 can bereduced if the operator is supposed to be a physically handicappedperson, with the result that the image forming apparatus 10 can beconstructed to have a good operability for physically handicappedpeople.

Particularly, since the period for receiving the entry by means of theoperation panel 18 is limited in this embodiment, a good operability ofthe image forming apparatus 10 can be ensured for an operator utilizingthe image forming apparatus 10 next to a physically handicapped operatorwhile ensuring a good operability of the image forming apparatus 10 forphysically handicapped people.

Specifically, most of operators are thought to conduct a copyingoperation in an initial state where the image forming conditions such asthe size of recording sheets, the magnification, the density and thenumber of copies to be made are set at predetermined values. Suchoperators frequently instruct the copying operation assuming that theimage forming conditions are set to the initial states. Here, since theautomatic clear processing is not executed (the image forming conditionsare not reset to the initial states after being changed by means of theoperation panel 18) in the first embodiment, a next operator mayinstruct the copying operation (presses the start button 100) assumingthat the image forming conditions are set in their initial stateswithout knowing that they were changed, and may not recognize that theimage forming conditions were changed until seeing the recording sheethaving an image formed thereon.

Accordingly, as described above, if the operation panel 18 was movedfrom the first position to the second position, a possibility of thenext operator resetting the image forming conditions to the initialstates or reinstructing the copying operation due to the above copyfailure can be reduced by limiting the period for receiving the entry bymeans of the operation panel 18 while extending this period. Thus, agood operability of the image forming apparatus 10 can be ensured alsofor the next operator and the waste of the recording sheets can besuppressed or solved.

The processing to be postponed if the operation panel 18 was moved fromthe first position to the second position is not limited to theautomatic clear processing and may be the aforementioned preheating modetransition processing and/or sleep mode transition processing.

Although the operation-panel driving device 110 for making the positionof the operation panel 18 selectively changeable between the firstposition where the operation panel 18 is substantially laid and thesecond position where the operation panel 18 is raised at the specifiedangle includes the shafts 112, 114 and the oil damper 118 in the firstembodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, asnap-switch mechanism may substitute for the oil damper 118. Further,instead of rotating the operation panel 18 about the shafts 112, 114,the operation panel 18 may be slid on a curved pedestal.

Although the position of the operation panel 18 is manually changed bythe operator to the first position where the operation panel 18 issubstantially laid and the second position where the operation panel 18is raised at the specified angle in the first embodiment, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. For example, an operation switch maybe disposed in the casing 30 or the like, and the position of theoperation panel 18 can be selectively changed to the first position andto the second position by being rotated about the shafts 112, 114 bymeans of a driving portion of a stepping motor to be driven by turningthis operation switch on.

Although whether the operation panel 18 is at the first position or atthe second position is detected by the angle sensor 130 in the foregoingembodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example,an optical sensor may be disposed at a position corresponding to thesecond position of the operation panel 18, and it may be detected bythis optical sensor that the operation panel 18 is at the secondposition. Alternatively, a microswitch or the like may be disposed at aposition corresponding to the second position of the operation panel 18and pushed by the operation panel 18 when the operation panel 18 is atthe second position, thereby detecting that the operation panel 18 is atthe second position.

The processings whose executions are stopped or postponed if theoperation panel 18 has been moved from the first position to the secondposition are not limited to the automatic clear processing, thepreheating mode transition processing and the preheating mode transitionprocessing. If the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with afunction of executing such a processing as to prohibit the entry bymeans of the operation panel 18, the execution of this processing may bestopped or postponed.

The present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 10having the aforementioned construction, and may be applied to a colorcopier constructed to have only one photosensitive drum, a monochromaticcopier for forming a monochromatic image, a composite apparatus having afunction as a printer and a function as a facsimile apparatus inaddition to the function as the copier or a facsimile apparatusconstructed to be installed on the floor surface.

Next, an image forming apparatus 10 a according to a second embodimentof the present invention is described. FIG. 8 is a perspective diagramschematically showing an external construction of this image formingapparatus. In the second embodiment, elements identical to those of thefirst embodiment are not described by being identified by the samereference numerals. Further, since the construction of theoperation-panel supporting unit of the second embodiment is identical tothe one shown in FIG. 3, it is not described here.

The image forming apparatus of the second embodiment is additionallyprovided with panel drive buttons 20 c for the operation panel 18 of theimage forming apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. The panel drivebuttons 20 c are arranged at positions in the vicinity of an operationpanel 18.

Different from the operation panel 18 of the first embodiment, theoperation panel 18 of the second embodiment is provided with a functionmode selection button 102 a arranged at the left side of and adjacent toa liquid crystal display 96 and a staying period setting button 104arranged above and adjacent to the function mode selection button 102 a.

The panel drive buttons 20 c include an activating button 20 a and areturn button 20 b. When the activating button 20 a is pressed by anoperator, the operation panel 18 automatically moves from the firstposition to the second position. When the return button 20 b is pressed,the operation panel 28 automatically returns from the second position tothe first position.

After moving to the second position, the operation panel 18automatically returns to the first position unless a copying operation(image forming operation) is started before the lapse of a predeterminedstaying period. Alternatively, the operation panel 18 having moved tothe second position automatically returns to the first position afterthe lapse of a predetermined staying period after the copying operation(image forming operation) is completed. A construction for making theposition of the operation panel 18 selectively changeable to the firstposition and to the second position is described later.

The liquid crystal display 96 is constructed by a touch panel used toset image forming conditions by being touched by fingertips. On theliquid crystal display 96 is displayed an operation image in which asheet setting portion for setting the kind of recording sheets, etc., amagnification setting portion for setting a copying magnification, adensity setting portion for setting a copying density, a sheetprocessing setting portion for setting stapling, punching or other sheetprocessing, a function setting portion for setting various functionssuch as duplex printing or divided printing are successively arrayed.

The image forming conditions on the liquid crystal display 96 are set atinitial values determined beforehand for the respective settingportions. For example, “Automatic Sheet Selection” for setting the sizeof the recording sheet corresponding to a document size is set in thesheet setting portion; “100%” that is identical to the document size isset in the magnification setting portion; and “Automatic Density” foradapting the image density to the density of a document image is set inthe density setting portion.

These conditions can be changed to specified input values by touchingthe respective setting portions, but the input values automaticallyreturn to the initial values by an automatic clear processing if thecopying operation (image forming operation) is not started despite thelapse of a predetermined period after the conditions were changed tospecified input values or if a predetermined period elapses after thecopying operation (image forming operation) is completed.

In the present invention, a period up to the execution of this automaticclear processing (a period that elapses after the entry was made to setthe specified values if the conditions automatically return to theinitial values because the copying operation was not started, or aperiod that elapses after the completion of the copying operation if theconditions automatically return to the initial values because thecopying operation was completed) is called a function realizing period(automatic clearing period).

In the second embodiment, a second period that is a function realizingperiod when the operation panel 18 is at the second position is set tobe longer by a predetermined time than a first period that is a functionrealizing period when the operation panel 18 is at the first position.Thus, an undesirable situation where the automatic clear processing isexecuted to reset the input values just set in the operation panel 18 tothe initial values before the entry to the operation panel 18 iscompleted can be effectively avoided. As a result, an operability of theoperation panel 18 also for wheel-chaired handicapped people can beimproved.

If the operation panel 18 returns from the second position to the firstposition, the function realizing period that was set to be longer thanthe first period by the predetermined time is returned to the firstperiod. Therefore, no inconvenience is caused even when a physicallynormal person operates the operation panel 18.

A numeric pad 98 includes buttons used to set the number of copies to bemade and the like, and a start button 100 is for instructing the startof the coping operation. The function mode selection button 102 a is foralternatively selecting a first function mode and a second functionmode.

Here, in the first function mode, the period up to the execution of theautomatic clear processing is set to the specified first period if theoperation panel 18 is at the first position, set to the specified secondperiod if the operation panel 18 is at the second position, and returnedto the first period if the operation panel 18 returns from the secondposition to the first position.

In the second function mode, even if the operation panel 18 is at thesecond position, the automatic clear processing is executed upon thelapse of the first period identical to the one when the operation panel18 is at the first position.

The staying period setting button 104 is for selectively setting thestaying period of the operation panel 18 to one of periods setbeforehand. Since the staying period can be changed by operating thestaying period setting button 104 in this way, it can be made possibleto prevent the operation panel 18 at the second position fromautomatically returning to the first position before the entry to theoperation panel 18 is completed. Therefore, the operability of theoperation panel 18 can be improved for wheel-chaired handicapped people.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic diagrams showing an construction example ofan operation-panel driving device 110 for enabling the position of theoperation panel 18 to be selectively changed to the first position wherethe operation panel 18 is laid and to the second position where theoperation panel 18 is raised at a specified angle. As shown in FIGS. 9Ato 9C, the operation-panel driving device 110 is comprised of shafts112, 114 coaxially extending along transverse direction from theopposite side surfaces of a front end portion of the operation panel 18and rotatably mounted on a frame 92 (see FIG. 8) constituting part of acasing 30, and a drive source 134 including a stepping motor for givinga torque to one shaft 112. The torque of the drive source 134 istransmitted to the shaft 112 by a gear 132 mounted on a rotary driveshaft 131 being engaged with a gear 133 mounted on the shaft 112,whereby the operation panel 18 is made rotatable about the shafts 112,114.

Specifically, the operation panel 18 is made rotatable between the firstposition where the operation panel 18 is at an angle θ1 (θ1 may be 0□)to a horizontal plane H identical with the floor surface as shown inFIG. 9B and the second position where the operation panel 18 is at anangle θ2 (θ2>θ1 and θ2 may be 90°) to the horizontal plane H as shown inFIG. 9C by giving the torque to the operation panel 18 from the drivesource 134. The operation panel 18 is set at the first position shown inFIG. 9B, which is an initially set position, if the operator is aphysically normal person, while being set to the second position shownin FIG. 9C if the operator is a wheel-chaired handicapped person.

FIG. 8 shows the image forming apparatus 10 a when the operation panel18 is at the first position shown in FIG. 9B, whereas FIG. 10 shows theimage forming apparatus 10 a when the operation panel 18 is at thesecond position shown in FIG. 9C. The operation panel 18 is set at thefirst position shown in FIG. 9B, which is the initially set position, atan initial stage when an unillustrated power switch is turned on, and isset to the second position shown in FIG. 9C by operating the activatingbutton 20 a. An angle of inclination (angle θ2 of FIG. 9C) of theoperation panel 18 at the second position can be adjusted by adjustingan operation period of the activating button 20 a according to thesitting height of a wheel-chaired handicapped person.

An angle sensor 130 constructing a detecting unit for detecting whetherthe operation panel 18 is at the first position or at the secondposition is mounted on one shaft 112 of the operation-panel drivingdevice 110. A variable resistor such as a potentiometer for detecting arotation angle of the operation panel 18 is adopted as this angle sensor130. As the operation panel 18 is rotated, a rotary shaft of the anglesensor 130 is also rotated, thereby changing a resistance value. Whetherthe operation panel 18 is at the first position or at the secondposition is detected based on this changing resistance value.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus 10 a. The image forming apparatus 10 a isprovided with a controller 140 a (corresponding to the support operationexecuting unit) for controlling an image forming operation. Thecontroller 140 a is constructed by a microcomputer including a CPU forexecuting a calculation processing, a ROM storing a processing program,data and the like, and a RAM for temporarily saving data; and controlsoperations in a document reader 12, an image forming assembly 34, afirst conveyance path 36, a fixing unit 38 and a second conveyance path40 in accordance with image forming conditions such as the size ofrecording sheets, the magnification, the density and the number ofcopies to be made set by means of the operation panel 18.

The controller 140 a is connected with the drive source 134 for giving atorque to the operation panel 18, an image memory 142 for saving imagedata read by the document reader 12, a display memory 144 for saving thecontent of images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 96, anda timer 146 for measuring a time.

The controller 140 a is provided with function realizing sections, i.e.a panel setting discriminating section 150, a drive source controllingsection 151, a position discriminating section 152, a function modediscriminating section 153, a function realizing period setting section154, a period discriminating section 155, an entry discriminatingsection 156, a function controlling section 157, an image forminginstruction discriminating section 158 and an image formationcontrolling section 159.

The panel setting discriminating section 150 discriminates whether aninstruction to set the operation panel 18 at the first position or aninstruction to set the operation panel 18 at the second position hasbeen given by operating the panel drive button 20 c.

The drive source controlling section 151 controls the operation of thedrive source 134 for giving the torque to the operation panel 18, andcauses the operation panel 18 to move from the first position to thesecond position when the activating button 20 a is operated whilecausing the operation panel 18 at the second position to return to thefirst position when the return button 20 b is operated.

The drive source controlling section 151 also causes the operation panel18 at the second position to return to the first position if no copyingoperation (image forming operation) has been started despite the lapseof a predetermined period following the movement of the operation panel18 to the second position or if a predetermined period has elapsed afterthe copying operation (image forming operation) was completed.

The position discriminating section 152 discriminates whether theoperation panel 18 is at the first position where it is laid or at thesecond position where it is raised at the specified angle based on theresistance value of the angle sensor 130 that changes according to therotation angle of the operation panel 18.

More specifically, the position discriminating section 152 discriminatesthat the operation panel 18 is at the second position, for example, ifthe resistance value of the angle sensor 130 exceeds a predeterminedvalue while discriminating that the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition if the resistance value of the angle sensor 130 is equal to orbelow the predetermined value. Since the second position of theoperation panel 18 is adjusted according to the sitting height of awheel-chaired handicapped operator, the resistance value of the anglesensor 130 for discriminating that the operation panel 18 is at thesecond position is set in view of an angle range of the operation panel18 to be adjusted.

The function mode discriminating section 153 discriminates whether thefirst function mode has been selected or the second function mode hasbeen selected.

The function realizing period setting section 154 changes a functionrealizing period (automatic clearing period) up to the execution of anautomatic clear processing from the first period to the second period ifthe operation panel 18 is at the second position when a first functionmode is set. The function realizing period setting section 154 alsoreturns the function realizing period from the second period to thefirst period when the operation panel 18 returns from the secondposition to the first position.

The period discriminating section 155 discriminates whether or not thecopying operation (image forming operation) has been performed until thefunction realizing period set by the function realizing period settingsection 154 elapses after an input value different from an initial valuewas entered by means of the operation panel 18. The perioddiscriminating section 155 also discriminates whether the copyingoperation (image forming operation) has been performed until thefunction realizing period set by the function realizing period settingsection 154 elapses after the copying operation (image formingoperation) was completed. For example, a state where the start button100 is not operated falls under a state where the copying operation isnot performed.

By measuring a time by means of the timer 146, the period discriminatingportion 155 also discriminates whether or not the staying period of theoperation panel 18 at the second position in the case of causing theoperation panel 18 to automatically return from the second position tothe first position has exceeded a value set by operating the stayingperiod setting button 104.

The entry discriminating section 156 discriminates whether or not aspecified input value has been entered by means of the operation panel18. A discrimination as to this entry can be made, for example, inaccordance with an input signal generated when the entry is made.

The function controlling section 157 executes the automatic clearprocessing. Specifically, the input value in the operation panel 18 isautomatically returned to the initial value if the function realizingperiod has elapsed without performing any copying operation (imageforming operation) after an input value different from the initial valuewas set by means of the operation panel 18 or if the function realizingperiod has elapsed after the copying operation (image forming operation)was completed.

The image forming instruction discriminating section 158 discriminateswhether or not any instruction has been made to form an image on arecording sheet by discriminating whether or not the start button 100has been operated.

The image formation controlling section 159 forms an image on arecording sheet based on an image data saved in the image memory 142 bycausing the image forming assembly 34 and the like to operate.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an exemplary first operation when animage is formed on a recording sheet in the image forming apparatus 10a. In this exemplary operation, the copying operation (image formingoperation) is performed by setting an input value different from theinitial value after the operation panel 18 at the first position ismoved to the second position.

First, the panel setting discriminating section 150 discriminateswhether or not any instruction has been given to set the operation panel18 at the second position by operating the activating button 20 a (StepS24). If the discrimination result in Step S24 is positive, the drivesource controlling section 151 controls the drive source 134 to move theoperation panel 18 from the first position to the second position (StepS25).

Subsequently, the position discriminating section 152 discriminateswhether or not the operation panel 18 is at the second position (StepS26). If the discrimination result in Step S26 is positive, the functionmode discriminating section 153 discriminates whether or not the firstfunction mode has been selected by operating the function mode selectionbutton 102 a (Step S27).

If the discrimination result in Step S27 is positive, the functionrealizing period setting section 154 changes the function realizingperiod up to the execution of the automatic clear processing with theoperation panel 18 located at the second position from the first periodto the second period (Step S28).

Subsequently, the period discriminating section 155 discriminateswhether or not the time counted by the timer 146 after the movement ofthe operation panel 18 to the second position has exceeded the functionrealizing period set in Step S28 (Step S29). If the discriminationresult in Step S29 is negative, the entry discriminating section 156discriminates whether or not any entry has been made by means of theoperation panel 18 (Step S30). If the discrimination result in Step S30is positive, the period discriminating section 155 discriminated whetheror not the staying period of the operation panel 18 at the second periodhas elapsed (Step S31).

If the discrimination result in Step S31 is negative, the image forminginstruction discriminating section 158 discriminates whether or not animage forming instruction has been given (Step S32). If thediscrimination result in Step S32 is positive, the image formationcontrolling section 159 controls the image forming assembly 34 and thelike to form an image on a recording sheet (Step S33).

If the discrimination result in Step S24 is negative, this routine waitson standby until the discrimination result becomes positive. If thediscrimination result in Step S26 is negative, this routine returns toStep S25. If the discrimination result in Step S27 is negative, thisroutine proceeds to Step S29. If the discrimination result in Step S29is positive, the automatic clear processing is executed to reset theinput value entered in the operation panel 18 to the initial value.Therefore, the image forming operation is ended because an initialpurpose cannot be fulfilled.

If the discrimination result in Step S30 is negative, this routinereturns to Step S29. If the discrimination result in Step S31 ispositive, the operation panel 18 automatically returns to the firstposition (Step S34). In this case, the image forming operation is endedbecause an initial purpose cannot be fulfilled. If the discriminationresult in Step S32 is negative, this routine waits on standby until thediscrimination result becomes positive.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an exemplary second operation when animage is formed on a recording sheet in the image forming apparatus 10a. In this exemplary operation, the copying operation (image formingoperation) is performed by entering an input value different from theinitial value after the operation panel 18 at the second position ismoved to the first position.

First, the panel setting discriminating section 150 discriminateswhether or not any instruction has been given to move the operationpanel 18 at the second position to the first position by operating thereturn button 20 b (Step S41). If the discrimination result in Step S41is positive, the drive source controlling section 151 controls the drivesource 134 to move the operation panel 18 from the second position tothe first position (Step S42).

Subsequently, the position discriminating section 152 discriminateswhether or not the operation panel 18 is at the first position (StepS43). If the discrimination result in Step S43 is positive, the functionrealizing period up to the execution of the automatic clear processingis changed (returned) to the first period that is the function realizingperiod in the case where the operation panel 18 is at the first position(Step S44).

Subsequently, the period discriminating section 155 discriminateswhether or not the time counted by the timer 146 after the movement ofthe operation panel 18 to the first position has exceeded the functionrealizing period changed in Step S44 (Step S45). If the discriminationresult in Step S45 is positive, the entry discriminating section 156discriminates whether or not any entry has been made to the operationpanel 18 (Step S46).

If the discrimination result in Step S46 is positive, the image forminginstruction discriminating section 158 discriminates whether or not animage forming instruction has been given (Step S47). If thediscrimination result in Step S47 is positive, the image formationcontrolling section 159 controls the image forming assembly 34 and thelike to form an image on a recording sheet (Step S48).

If the discrimination result in Step S41 is negative, this routine waitson standby until the discrimination result becomes positive. If thediscrimination result in Step S43 is negative, this routine returns toStep S42. If the discrimination result in Step S45 is positive, theautomatic clear processing is executed to reset the input value enteredin the operation panel 18 to the initial value. Thus, the image formingoperation is ended because the initial purpose cannot be fulfilled. Thisroutine returns to Step S45 if the discrimination result in Step S46 isnegative while waiting on standby until the discrimination resultbecomes positive if the discrimination result in Step S47 is negative.

The image forming apparatus 10 a of the second embodiment is constructedas above and, if the operation panel 18 is at the second position, theautomatic clear processing is executed upon the lapse of the secondperiod longer than the first period adopted when the operation panel 18is at the first position. Thus, an undesirable situation where the inputvalue just set in the operation panel 18 returns to the initial valuedue to the execution of the automatic clear processing before the entryto the operation panel 18 is completed can be effectively avoided,wherefore the operation of the operation panel 18 can be improved alsofor wheel-chaired handicapped people. Further, if the operation panel 18returns from the second position to the first position, the period up tothe execution of the automatic clear processing is reset to the firstperiod, wherefore no inconvenience is caused, either, when a physicallynormal person operates the operation panel 18. As a result, thevisibility and operability of the operation panel are good forphysically handicapped people as well as for physically normal people.

The present invention is not limited to the second embodiment, and maybe embodied in various manners, for example, as described below, ifnecessary.

Although the operation-panel driving device 110 is comprised of theshafts 112, 114 and the drive source 134 including the stepping motor inthe second embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto.Instead of the stepping motor, a solenoid or another means may be, forexample, used as the drive source 134. The operation-panel drivingdevice 110 may be manually activated and can be realized by the shafts112, 114 and an oil damper disposed on the back surface of the operationpanel 18. Further, instead of rotating the operation panel 18 about theshafts 112, 114, the operation panel 18 may be slid on a curvedpedestal.

Although whether the operation panel 18 is at the first position or atthe second position is detected by the angle sensor 130 in the secondembodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example,optical sensors may be disposed at positions corresponding to the firstposition and the second position of the operation panel 18, and whetherthe operation panel 18 is at the first position or at the secondposition may be detected by these optical sensors. Alternatively,microswitches or the like may be disposed at positions corresponding tothe first position and the second position of the operation panel 18,and whether the operation panel 18 is at the first position or at thesecond position may be detected by the microswitch being pressed by theoperation panel 18.

Although the automatic clear processing is described as an associatedprocessing relating to the image formation in the second embodiment, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, a sleepprocessing for turning the power supply off except the one for theoperation system and the like to save power upon the lapse of apredetermined period following the completion of the copying operation(image forming apparatus) may be adopted as an associated processing.Alternatively, a preheating processing for reducing the temperatures ofheat sources such as the fixing unit to save power upon the lapse of apredetermined period after the completion of the copying operation(image forming apparatus) may be adopted as an associated processing.

Even if the associated processing relating to the image formation is aprocessing other than the automatic clear processing such as the sleepprocessing or the preheating processing, an occurrence of such asituation as to make the entry invalid such as the return of the inputvalue just set to the initial value due to the malfunction of theoperation panel 18 can be prevented.

Although the function realizing period up to the execution of theautomatic clear processing is longer when the operation panel 18 is atthe second position than when the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition in the second embodiment, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, the automatic clear processing may be not executedwhen the operation panel 18 is at the second position. This can be madepossible by controlling a display driving section for the liquid crystaldisplay 96.

In the second embodiment, the operation panel 18 is returned from thesecond position to the first position if the image forming operation hasnot been started until the staying period elapses after the movement ofthe operation panel 18 to the second position or if the staying periodhas elapsed after the completion of the image forming operation.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, theoperation panel 18 may not be automatically returned from the secondposition to the first position even if the image forming operation hasnot been started until the staying period elapses after the movement ofthe operation panel 18 to the second position or if the staying periodhas elapsed after the completion of the image forming operation. In sucha case, the staying period setting button 104 is not necessary. Further,although the staying period can be changed by operating the stayingperiod setting button 104 in the second embodiment, it may be a fixedvalue.

Although the first function mode or the second function mode is selectedby operating the function mode selection button 102 a in the secondembodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example,the first function mode may be constantly set. In such a case, thefunction mode selection button 102 a is not necessary.

Although the function realizing period up to the execution of theautomatic clear processing or the like associated processing relating tothe image formation is changed after detecting that the operation panel18 is at the second position in the second embodiment, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. For example, the function realizingperiod may be changed by operating the panel drive button 20 c.

Next, an image forming apparatus 10 b according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention is described. The image forming apparatus 10 b ischaracterized in that an operation image displayed on the operationpanel 18 is enlarged when an operation panel 18 is at a second position.In the third embodiment, elements identical to those of the first andsecond embodiments are not described by being identified by the samereference numerals. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an electricalconstruction of the image forming apparatus 10 b.

The image forming apparatus 10 b is provided with a controller 140 b(corresponding to the support operation executing unit) for controllingan image forming operation. The controller 140 b is constructed by amicrocomputer including a CPU for executing a calculation processing, aROM storing a processing program, data and the like, and a RAM fortemporarily saving data; and controls operations in a document reader12, an image forming assembly 34, a first conveyance path 36, a fixingunit 38 and a second conveyance path 40 in accordance with image formingconditions such as the size of recording, the magnification, the densityand the number of copies to be made sheets set by means of the operationpanel 18.

The controller 140 b is connected with an image memory 142 for savingimage data read by the document reader 12, and a display memory 144storing images to be displayed on a liquid crystal display 96.

The controller 140 b is provided with function realizing sections, i.e.a display mode discriminating section 170, a position discriminatingsection 171, a display controlling section 172, a start instructiondiscriminating section 173, and an image formation controlling section174.

The display mode discriminating section 170 discriminates which of firstand second display modes is selected. In the first display mode, adisplayed state of an operation image to be displayed on the liquidcrystal display 96 is so changed as to give a higher visibility when theoperation panel 18 is at the second position than when the operationpanel 18 is at the first position. In the second display mode, thedisplayed state of the operation image is the same when the operationpanel 18 is at the second position as when the operation panel 18 is atthe first position without being changed.

The position discriminating section 171 discriminates whether theoperation panel 18 is at the first position where it is laid or at thesecond position where it is raised at a specified angle based on aresistance value of an angle sensor 130 that changes according to therotation angle of the operation panel 18.

More specifically, the position discriminating section 171 discriminatesthat the operation panel 18 is at the second position, for example, ifthe resistance value of the angle sensor 130 exceeds a predeterminedvalue while discriminating that the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition if the resistance value of the angle sensor 130 is equal to orbelow the predetermined value. Since the second position of theoperation panel 18 is adjusted according to the sitting height of awheel-chaired operator, the resistance value of the angle sensor 130 fordiscriminating that the operation panel 18 is at the second position isset in view of an angle range of the operation panel 18 to be adjusted.

The display controlling section 172 is for controlling the displayedstate of the operation image to be displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 96. The display controlling section 172 displays a normaloperation image shown in FIG. 16 based on a display data stored in thedisplay memory 144 if the operation panel 18 is at the first positionwhile displaying an enlarge operation image shown in FIG. 17 based on adisplay data stored in the display memory 144 if the operation panel 18is at the second position when the first mode is selected. The displaycontrolling section 172 also controls the scroll display in the case ofenlargedly displaying the operation image.

The start instruction discriminating section 173 discriminates whetheror not any instruction has been given to form an image on a recordingsheet by discriminating whether or not the start button 100 has beenturned on. The image formation controlling section 174 forms an image ona recording sheet based on an image data saved in the image memory 142by causing the image forming assembly 34 and the like to operate.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an exemplary operation of the imageforming apparatus 10 b in the case of forming an image on a recordingsheet. First, if the operation panel 18 is at the second position, thedisplay mode discriminating section 170 discriminates whether or not thefirst display mode has been selected to change the display state of theoperation image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 96 (StepS50). If the discrimination result in Step S50 is positive, the positiondiscriminating section 171 discriminates whether or not the operationpanel 18 is at the second position (Step S51).

If the discrimination result in Step S51 is positive, the enlargedoperation image shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 96 in accordance with the control of the display controllingsection 172 (Step S52). After image forming conditions such as the sizeof the recording sheet, the magnification and the density are set on thedisplayed enlarged operation image by an operator, the start instructiondiscriminating section 173 discriminates whether or not a startinstruction has been given (Step S53). If the discrimination result inStep S53 is positive, the image forming assembly 34 and the like arecontrollably driven by the image formation controlling section 174 toform an image on the recording sheet (Step S54).

If the discrimination result in Step S50 is negative, this routineproceeds to Step S53. If the discrimination result in Step S51 isnegative, this routine proceeds to Step S53 after the normal operationimage shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 96 inaccordance with the control of the display controlling section 172 (StepS55). If the discrimination result in Step S53 is negative, this routinewaits on standby until the discrimination result becomes positive.

The image forming apparatus 10 b of the third embodiment is constructedas above, and the enlarged operation image is displayed on the liquidcrystal display 96 if the first display mode is selected by operatingthe display mode selection button 102 c and the operation panel 18 isdetected to be at the second position, wherefore the visibility of theoperation panel 18 for wheel-chaired handicapped people is improved,resulting in a better operability.

The present invention is not limited to the third embodiment, and may beembodied in various manners, for example, as described below, ifnecessary.

In the third embodiment, the enlarged operation image is displayed onthe liquid crystal display 96 when the operation panel 18 is at thesecond position where it is raised at the specified angle. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the visibility ofthe operation image may be improved by increasing the brightness of theoperation image on the liquid crystal display 96 or displaying amulticolor image instead of a monochromatic image. This can ensure abetter operability. It is sufficient to change the displayed state inorder to have a higher visibility of the operation image when theoperation panel 18 is at the second position where it is raised at thespecified angle than when the operation panel 18 is at the firstposition where it is laid.

Although the displayed content of the operation image on the liquidcrystal display 96 is same regardless of whether the operation panel 18is at the first position where it is laid or at the second where it israised at the specified angle position in the third embodiment, theresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is alsopossible to display an enlarged operation image while omitting some ofthe automatically settable image forming conditions such as the size ofthe recording sheet and the density when the operation panel 18 is atthe second position.

In the third embodiment, the enlarged operation image shown in FIG. 17is displayed when the operation panel 18 is at the second position whereit is raised at the specified angle. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto. For example, a plurality of second positions wherethe operation panel 18 is raised at specified angles may be preparedstepwise, and the magnification of the operation image may be changedbased on the set second position. In other words, if three secondpositions where the operation panel 18 are at angles θa, θb, θc(θa<θb<θc) to the horizontal plane are assumed to be set, themagnification is, for example, set to be larger when the operation panel18 is at the angle θc than when the operation panel 18 is at the angleθb and set to be larger when the operation panel 18 is at angle θc thanwhen the operation panel 18 is at the angle θb.

Although the first and second display modes are alternatively selectedin the third embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto.For example, if the operation panel 18 is at the second position whereit is raised at the specified angle, the displayed state of theoperation image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 96 may bealways changed.

Although the liquid crystal display 96 of the operation panel 18constructs a touch panel in the third embodiment, the present inventionis not limited thereto. For example, the liquid crystal display 96 maybe adopted to display specified messages for image formation. The touchpanel may be constructed by a CRT display instead of by the liquidcrystal display 96.

Next, an image forming apparatus 10 c according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention is described. FIG. 18 is a block diagramshowing an electrical construction of the image forming apparatus 10 c.The image forming apparatus 10 c is characterized by rotating anoperation image to be displayed on an operation panel 18 according tothe rotation angle of the operation panel 18. In the fourth embodiment,elements identical to those of the first to third embodiments are notdescribed by being identified by the same reference numerals. Thefunction button 102 shown in FIG. 1 is a display mode selection button102 c for setting the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 10 cto a rotating mode or a nonrotating mode to be described later.

The image forming apparatus 10 c is provided with a document reader 200,an operation display unit 300, an image memory 400, a printingcontroller 500, a conveyance controller 600 and a controller 140 c. Thedocument reader 200 is so constructed as to be identical with thedocument reader 12 shown in FIG. 2 and obtains a document image data byreading a document.

The operation display unit 300 is constructed to include the operationpanel 18 shown in FIG. 1, and receives various operation commandsentered by a user. The operation display unit 300 includes aninclination angle detecting sensor 301 for detecting an angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300. This inclination angledetecting sensor 301 is constructed to include the angle sensor 130shown in FIG. 3.

The image memory 400 is for saving image data obtained by the documentreader 200. The printing controller 500 controls the image formingassembly 34 shown in FIG. 2 to print a document image data on arecording sheet.

The conveyance controller 600 controls the pairs of conveyance rollers78 shown in FIG. 2 to control the conveyance of the recording sheet. Thecontroller 140 c (corresponding to the support operation executing unit)includes a CPU and the like for centrally governing the image formingapparatus 10 c. The controller 140 c also causes the operation image tobe displayed while being rotated according to the angle of inclinationof the operation display unit 300.

In addition, the controller 140 c sets the operation mode of the imageforming apparatus 10 c either to the rotating mode or to the nonrotatingmode in accordance with an operation command from a user. The operationimage is rotated according to the angle of inclination of the operationpanel 18 in the rotating mode whereas the operation image is not rotatedaccording to the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 in thenonrotating mode.

The controller 140 c also causes the operation image to be displayed onthe operation panel 18 while being rotated according to the rotationangle of the operation panel 18.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 c is described inaccordance with a flow chart shown in FIG. 19. First, if the operationdisplay unit 300 receives an operation command from a user to set theoperation mode to the rotating mode in Step S60 (YES in Step S60), thecontroller 140 c sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus10 c to the rotating mode (Step S61). Here, the operation display unit300 receives the operation command to set the operation mode when theuser presses the display mode selection button 102 c.

If the angle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 is changedand the controller 140 c receives a detection signal representing anangle of inclination and outputted from the inclination angle detectingsensor 301 in Step S62 (YES in Step S62), the controller 140 c executesa processing to rotate the operation image based on the received angleof inclination (Step S63) and causes the operation image after therotation processing to be displayed on the operation display unit 300(Step S64).

Here, the controller 140 c executes the processing of a first pattern ora second pattern described below to rotate the operation image. FIGS.20A and 20B are diagrams showing the operation images rotated by thefirst pattern, wherein FIG. 20A shows a case where the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 is 0° and FIG. 20B shows acase where it is approximately 20°. The rotation processing of the firstpattern is for rotating the entire operation image according to theangle of inclination of the operation display unit 300. The operationimages shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B are those of defaults of the imageforming apparatus 10 c.

It can be understood that the operation image is displayed such thatdirection A1 is upward direction as shown in FIG. 20A if the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 is 0°. On the other hand,it can be understood that the operation image is rotated by the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 with respect to directionA1 as shown in FIG. 20B. It should be noted that direction A2 is normalto direction A1 and the facing direction of a user U.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are diagrams showing operation images rotated by thesecond pattern, wherein FIG. 21A shows a case where the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 is 0□ and FIG. 21B shows acase where it is 90°.

Round buttons B1 to B4 are displayed on the operation image shown inFIGS. 21A and 21B. The round buttons B1 constitute a numeric pad used toenter the number of copies to be made. The round button B2 is a startkey used to start a copying operation. The round button B3 is a stop keyused to stop the copying operation. The round buttons B4 are for settingthe kind of the recording sheet used for the copying operation.

In the case of FIG. 21A, the controller 140 c generates such anoperation image showing characters on the round buttons B1 to B4 suchthat upward direction is direction A1 since the angle of inclination ofthe operation display unit 300 is 0°, and causes the generated operationimage to be displayed on the operation display unit 300.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 21B, the controller 140 cgenerates such an operation image showing characters on the roundbuttons B1 to B4 rotated by 90° with respect to direction A1 since theangle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 is 90°, andcauses the generated operation image to be displayed on the operationdisplay unit 300.

In this way, the controller 140 c rotates the entire operation image orpart of the operation image by the angle of inclination of the operationdisplay unit 300 with respect to direction A1 and causes the resultingoperation image to be displayed on the operation display unit 300.

Accordingly, the operability of the operation image can be improved ifthe user U in a wheel chair K stops the wheel chair K with facingdirection A2 turned about 90° with respect to direction A1 and operatesthe operation display unit 300 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, i.e. if theuser U lays the wheel chair K along the front surface of the operationdisplay unit 300 and operates the operation display unit 300. Thus, theuser U in the wheel chair K can easily operate the operation imagewithout stopping the wheel chair K such that the facing direction A2 ofthe wheel chair K substantially coincides with direction A1.

In Step S65 shown in FIG. 19, the controller 140 c judges whether or notthe operation mode has been changed from the rotating mode to thenonrotating mode. This routine ends if the operation mode has beenchanged to the nonrotating mode (YES in Step S65) while returning toStep S62 if the rotating mode has been kept (NO in Step S65).

As described above, since the operation image is displayed while beingrotated according to the angle of inclination of the operation displayunit 300 in the image forming apparatus 10 c of the fourth embodiment,operability can be improved in the case of operating the operation imagewhile the wheel chair K is stopped along the front surface of the imageforming apparatus 10 c.

In the rotation processing of the second pattern, the buttons displayedin the operation image are round and the operation image is rotationallydisplayed by rotating the characters displayed on the buttons. Thus, theoperation image can be displayed on the operation display unit 300without being left out.

The present invention may also be embodied as follows.

Although the operation image is displayed while being rotated accordingto the angle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 in thefourth embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. Theoperation image may be displayed in a rotated manner if the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 exceeds a predeterminedvalue. In such a case, the rotation angle of the operation image may beset at 0° when the angle of inclination is equal to or below thepredetermined value while being increased as the angle of inclinationincreases. Alternatively, the rotation angle of the operation image maybe set at this predetermined value when the angle of inclination isequal to or below the predetermined value while being set to be equal tothe angle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 when theangle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 is above thepredetermined value.

Further, although the rotation angle of the operation image is set to beequal to the angle of inclination of the operation display unit 300 inthe fourth embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, the rotation angle of the operation display unit 300 may be setat 0° with the angle of inclination of 0° to 90, at 100 with the angleof inclination of 10° to 19°, and so on, thereby changing the rotationangle of the operation image stepwise according to the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300.

Furthermore, although the angle of inclination of the operation displayunit is 0° to 90° in the fourth embodiment, the present invention is notlimited thereto. The angle of inclination of the operation display unit300 may be adjustable within a specified angle range below 90° or up toa specified angle larger than 90°. In the latter case, the rotationangle of the operation image may be kept at 90° if the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit 300 exceeds 90°.

Next, an image forming apparatus 10 d according to a fifth embodiment ofthe present invention is described. The image forming apparatus 10 d ischaracterized in that the operation mode is set to a normal operationmode when an operation panel 18 is raised from a normal state. In thefifth embodiment, elements identical to those of the first to fourthembodiments are not described by being identified by the same referencenumerals.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view schematically showing an externalconstruction of the image forming apparatus 10 d according to the fifthembodiment. A point of difference to FIG. 1 is that a switch S isdisposed on the front surface of a main unit 14.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 10 dshowing the operation panel 18 having the angle of inclination thereofadjusted. The operation panel 18 is so mounted in a recessed space 94 ofa frame 92 forming part of a casing 30 as to be rotatable in directionsof arrow B about its front side as shown in FIG. 23. Here, an angleformed between the operation panel 18 and the frame 92 is referred to asan angle of inclination. The angle of inclination of the operation panel18 can be adjusted within a range of 0° to 90°, a range of 0° to 60° ora range of 0° to 45°.

In the case of the angle of inclination of 0°, an operation surface ofthe operation panel 18 is in parallel with horizontal direction. Thus,the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 is an angle ofinclination to horizontal direction. An arrow A1 shown in FIGS. 22 and23 indicates a direction toward the front side of the image formingapparatus 10 d.

FIGS. 24A to 24C are diagrams showing a mechanism for adjusting theangle of inclination of the operation panel 18. It should be noted thatelements of FIGS. 24A to 24C identical to those of FIGS. 3A to 3C arenot described by being identified by the same reference numerals.

The operation panel 18 is made rotatable between a first state where theoperation panel 18 is at an angle θ1 (θ1 may be 0°) to a horizontalplane H identical with the floor surface as shown in FIG. 24B and asecond state where the operation panel 18 is at an angle θ2 (θ2>θ1 andθ2 may be 90°) to the horizontal plane H as shown in FIG. 24C by givinga specified torque to the operation panel 18. Here, the operation panel18 is in a normal state when being in the first state, and in a raisedstate when being in the second state.

A motor M for rotating the operation panel 18 is connected with a shaft114. The switch S is connected with this motor M. The motor M isactivated to increase the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18while the switch S is pressed. When the switch S1 is released, the motorM is turned off to stop the rotation of the operation panel 18.

The rotation of the operation panel 18 in such a direction as todecrease the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 is made by auser's force, i.e. manually made. If the switch S is kept on until theangle of inclination of the operation panel 18 reaches a maximum angle(e.g. 90°), the motor M is turned off.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus 10 d. Here, only points of difference aredescribed without describing the elements of FIG. 25 identical to thoseof FIG. 18.

A controller 140 d (corresponding to the support operation executingunit) sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatus 10 d eitherto a power saving mode or to a normal operation mode. Here, the powersaving mode is set if the image forming apparatus 10 d has not been usedfor a predetermined period, thereby stopping the power supply to some ofunits of the image forming apparatus 10 d such as an exposing device 64.

In the normal operation mode, the power supply to none of the units ofthe image forming apparatus 10 d is stopped. The controller 140 d isprovided with a timer function and detects the lapse of thepredetermined time using this timer function.

The controller 140 d also discriminates, with the power saving mode set,whether or not the state of the operation panel 18 has been changed fromthe normal state to the raised state based on the angle of inclinationof the operation panel 18 detected by an inclination angle detectingsensor 301, and sets the normal operation mode in the image formingapparatus 10 d if the discrimination result is positive.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 d is describedwith reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 26. First, when the switchS is turned on by a user in Step S70 (YES in Step S70), the controller140 d outputs a drive signal to the motor M to rotate the operationpanel 18 (Step S71). On the other hand, this routine returns to Step S70as long as the switch S is not turned on by the user (NO in Step S70).

In Step S72, the controller 140 d receives a detection signal outputtedfrom the inclination angle detecting sensor 301. Here, the inclinationangle detecting sensor 301 outputs an electrical signal of a levelcorresponding to the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 tothe controller 140 d as a detection signal.

In Step S73, the controller 140 d discriminates whether or not theoperation panel 18 has been raised from the normal state in accordancewith the detection signal outputted from the inclination angle detectingsensor 301. Here, the controller 140 d judges that the operation panel18 is in the raised state if the angle represented by the detectionsignal outputted by the inclination angle detecting sensor 301 is equalto or larger than a specified angle while judging that the operationpanel 18 is in the normal state if the represented angle is below thespecified angle. Here, the specified angle is an angle predetermined todiscriminate whether the operation panel 18 is in the raised state or inthe normal state.

The controller 140 d sets the normal operation mode in the image formingapparatus 10 d (Step S74) if the discrimination result in Step S73 ispositive, whereas this routine ends if the discrimination result in StepS73 is negative.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 10 d, theoperation mode is switched to the normal operation mode if the operationpanel 18 is rotated with the power saving mode set in the image formingapparatus 10 d. Thus, the user can return the operation mode of theimage forming apparatus 10 d from the power saving mode to the normaloperation mode without touching the liquid crystal display 96, therebyimproving operability for physically handicapped people.

Although the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 is increasedupon receiving a torque from the motor M in the fifth embodiment, thepresent invention is not limited thereto and it may be manuallyincreased. In such a case, the operation panel 18 is rotated by placinghooked fingertips at a recess 128 formed in the middle of the rear endof the operation panel 18 to exert a force in rotating direction aboutthe shafts 112, 114. In the case of the manual rotation, the motor M andthe switch S can be omitted to reduce the number of parts, leading to acost reduction.

Although the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 is manuallydecreased in the fifth embodiment, the present invention is not limitedthereto and it may be decreased by the motor M. In such a case, a motorrotatable in forward and reverse directions may be adopted as the motorM. Alternatively, the switch S may be a lever-switch, wherein the angleof inclination of the operation panel 18 may be increased when the leveris turned toward one side while being decreased when the lever is turnedtoward the other side.

Next, an image forming apparatus 10 e according to a sixth embodiment ofthe present invention is described. The image forming apparatus 10 e ischaracterized in that set values are cleared when an operation panel 18is raised. In the sixth embodiment, elements identical to those of thefirst to fifth embodiments are not described by being identified by thesame reference numerals. Further, a perspective view schematicallyshowing an external construction according to in the sixth embodimentuses FIG. 1.

In the sixth embodiment, the function button 102 shown in FIG. 1 is amode selection button 102 e. The mode selection button 102 e is forsetting the image forming apparatus 10 e either to a clear mode forresetting values set for various items to default or to a nonclear modefor not resetting the set values for various items to the defaults whenthe operation panel 18 is raised from a normal state.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of theimage forming apparatus 10 e. Here, only points of difference aredescribed without describing the elements of FIG. 27 identical to thoseof FIG. 25. The operation panel 18 is rotated by the construction shownin FIGS. 24A to 24C.

A controller 140 e (corresponding to the support operation executingunit) registers values set for various items by a user operating theoperation panel 18, for example, by saving them in an unillustratedmemory in correspondence with the set items.

The controller 140 e also sets the image forming apparatus 10 e to theclear mode if the mode selection button 102 e is operated to select theclear mode while setting the image forming apparatus 10 e to thenonclear mode if the nonclear mode is selected.

In addition, the controller 140 e resets the values set for the variousitems to the defaults to clear the setting when the operation panel 18is raised from the normal state. Various set items include the size ofrecording sheets, the number of copies to be made, the magnification andthe copy density.

Set values for the size of recording sheets include A4, A5 and the like,wherein the default is, for example, A4. Set values for the number ofcopies to be made include one set, two sets and the like, wherein thedefault is one set. Set values for the magnification include 100%, 150%and the like, wherein the default is, for example, 100%. Set values forthe copy density include normal density, dark density, and the like,wherein the default is, for example, normal density.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 e is describedwith reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 28. First, when a switch Sis turned on by a user in Step S81 (YES in Step S81), the controller 140e outputs a drive signal to the motor M to rotate the operation panel 18(Step S82). On the other hand, this routine returns to Step S81 as longas the switch S is not turned on by the user (NO in Step S81).

In Step S83, the controller 140 e receives a detection signal outputtedfrom an inclination angle detecting sensor 301. Here, the inclinationangle detecting sensor 301 outputs an electrical signal of a levelcorresponding to the angle of inclination of the operation panel 18 tothe controller 140 e as a detection signal.

In Step S84, the controller 140 e discriminates whether or not theoperation panel 18 has been raised from the normal state in accordancewith the detection signal outputted from the inclination angle detectingsensor 301. Here, the controller 140 e judges that the operation panel18 is in the raised state if the angle represented by the detectionsignal outputted by the inclination angle detecting sensor 301 is equalto or larger than a specified angle. Here, the specified angle is anangle predetermined to discriminate whether the operation panel 18 is inthe raised state or in the normal state.

On the other hand, the controller 140 e judges that the operation panel18 is in the normal state if the angle of inclination represented by thedetection signal outputted from the inclination angle detecting sensor301 is below the specified angle.

The controller 140 e resets the values set for the various items to thedefaults (Step S85) if the discrimination result of Step S84 is positivewhile ending the routine if the discrimination result in Step S84 isnegative.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 10 e of thesixth embodiment, the values set for the various items are reset to thedefaults if the operation panel 18 is rotated. Thus, copying errors canbe reduced.

The inventive image forming apparatus comprises the operation displayunit mounted on the apparatus main body such that the angle ofinclination thereof to horizontal direction is adjustable and adapted todisplay various operation images; the detecting unit for detecting theangle of inclination of the operation display unit; and the supportoperation executing unit for executing the specified operation tosupport a physically handicapped operator when the detecting unitdetects that the operation display unit has been adjusted from theinitial state.

With this construction, the operation display unit is mounted on theapparatus main body such that the angle of inclination thereof tohorizontal direction is adjustable. When the detecting unit detects thatthe operation display unit has been adjusted from the initial state, thespecified support operation is executed to support the physicallyhandicapped operator. In other words, operability for physicallyhandicapped people can be improved because the support operation isexecuted only by the physically handicapped operator performing a simpleoperation of adjusting the angle of inclination of the operation displayunit.

The support operation executing unit preferably extends the period up tothe execution of the associated processing relating to the imageformation or prohibits the execution of the associated processing if thedetecting unit detects that the operation display unit has been adjustedfrom the initial state.

With this construction, the period up to the execution of the associatedprocessing by the operation display unit is extended or the execution ofthe associated processing is prohibited if the position of the operationdisplay unit is detected to have been adjusted from the initial state.Thus, the operable period of the operation display unit can be longer ifthe operation display unit has been adjusted than if the operationdisplay unit is in the initial state without being adjusted.

Specifically, in the case of a physically handicapped operator in awheel chair, be requires a longer time than physically normal people tooperate the operation display unit because a distance to the operationdisplay unit is inevitably longer. Thus, the associated processing isexecuted before the operation of the operation display unit iscompleted, thereby making it more likely to reset input values just setto initial values. However, with the above construction, such asituation can be avoided since the start of the execution of theassociated processing is postponed or canceled if the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit is adjusted.

In the above construction, the associated processing relating to theimage formation is preferably the automatic clear processing forautomatically resetting the input values relating to the imageformation, which are values different from the initial values andentered to the operation display unit, to the initial values upon thelapse of a predetermined period after the entry operation.

With this construction, the period up to the start of the associatedprocessing is extended or the associated processing is canceled if theangle of inclination of the operation display unit is adjusted. Thus,there can be avoided a situation where the input values just set arereset to the initial values before the operation of the operationdisplay unit is completed.

The associated processing is preferably a power saving processing forsetting a power saving state of reducing or shutting down the powersupply to a specified mechanism installed in the image formingapparatus.

With this construction, the period up to the start of the power savingprocessing for reducing or shutting off the power supply to thespecified mechanism installed in the image forming apparatus is extendedor the power saving processing is canceled if the angle of inclinationof the operation display unit is adjusted. Thus, there can be avoided asituation where the input values just set are reset to the initialvalues before the operation of the operation display unit is completed.

The inventive image forming apparatus further comprises the imageforming assembly for forming an image on a recording sheet based on animage data and the fixing unit for fixing the image formed in the imageforming assembly to the recording sheet, and the power saving processingis preferably a transition processing to the preheating mode forreducing the power supply to the fixing unit.

With this construction; there can be avoided a situation where thepreheating mode is set before the operation of the operation displayunit is completed, whereby the brightness of the operation imagedisplayed on the operation display unit becomes darker to deterioratethe operability.

The power saving processing is preferably a transition processing to thesleep mode for reducing or shutting off the power supply to thespecified mechanism including the operation display unit.

With this construction, there can be avoided a situation where the sleepmode is set before the operation of the operation display unit iscompleted, whereby the brightness of the operation image displayed onthe operation display unit becomes darker to deteriorate theoperability.

In the above construction, it is preferable that the detecting unitdetects the first position where the operation display unit is at thespecified angle to the horizontal plane and the second position wherethe operation display unit is at an angle larger to the horizontal planethan at the first position, and that the support operation executingunit executes the associated processing or cancels the execution of theassociated processing upon the lapse of the second period longer thanthe first period, which is a period up to the execution of theassociated processing when the operation display unit is at the firstposition, when the operation panel is at the second position, andexecutes the associated processing after resetting the period up to theexecution of the associated processing to the first period if theoperation display unit is returned from the second position to the firstposition.

With this construction, if the operation display unit is at the secondposition, the associated processing relating to the image formation isexecuted upon the lapse of the second period longer than the firstperiod corresponding to the first position or the associated processingis not executed. Thus, there can be effectively avoided a situationwhere the associated processing relating to the image formation isexecuted before the entry to, the operation display unit is completed,whereby the input values just set in the operation display unit arereset to the initial values to invalidate the entry. As a result,operability for wheel-chaired handicapped people can be improved.

Further, if the operation display unit is returned from the secondposition to the first position, the associated processing is executedafter resetting the period up to the execution of the associatedprocessing to the first period. Thus, no inconvenience is caused alsowhen physically normal people operate the operation display unit. As aresult, sufficient visibility and operability of the operation displayunit can be ensured for both physically normal people and physicallyhandicapped people.

In the above construction, it is preferable that the associatedprocessing is the automatic clear processing and that the image formingapparatus further comprises the function mode selecting section foralternatively selecting the first function mode for executing theassociated processing or canceling the execution of the associatedprocessing upon the lapse of the second period when the operationdisplay unit is at the second position and executing the associatedprocessing after resetting the period up to the execution of theassociated processing to the first period when the operation displayunit is returned from the second position to the first position, and thesecond function mode for executing the associated processing upon thelapse of the first period even if the operation display unit is at thesecond position.

With this construction, since the first and second function modes can bealternatively selected, the second function mode can be selected if theoperation panel is at the second position, but no inconvenience would becaused to physically handicapped people.

It is preferable that the operation display unit includes the drivesource for selectively moving the operation display unit to the firstposition and to the second position, and that the image formingapparatus further comprises the drive source controlling section forcontrolling the drive source to return the operation display unit fromthe second position to the first position if no image forming operationhas been started even though the predetermined period elapsed after theoperation display unit was moved from the first position to the secondposition or if the predetermined period has elapsed after the imageforming operation was completed, and the period setting section forchanging the predetermined period up to the return of the operationdisplay unit from the second position to the first position.

With this construction, the period up to the automatic return of theoperation display unit to the first position can be changed if no imageforming operation has been started even though the predetermined periodelapsed after the operation display unit was moved from the firstposition to the second position or if the predetermined period haselapsed after the image forming operation was completed. Thus, it can bemade possible to prohibit the automatic return to the first positionbefore the entry to the operation display unit is completed.

The displayed state of the operation image is preferably changed toincrease the visibility of the operation image to be displayed on theoperation display unit when the detecting unit detects that the state ofthe operation display unit has been adjusted form the initial state.

With this construction, the displayed state of the operation image ischanged to increase the visibility of the operation image to bedisplayed on the operation display unit when the angle of inclination ofthe operation display unit was adjusted. Thus, sufficient visibility andoperability of the operation display unit can be ensured both forphysically normal people who use the image forming apparatus with theangle of inclination of the operation display unit set to the initialstate and for physically handicapped people who use the image formingapparatus with the angle of inclination of the operation display unitadjusted.

It is preferably that the detecting unit detects the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit and the support operationexecuting unit causes the operation image to be displaced on theoperation display unit while rotating the operation image according tothe angle of inclination of the operation display unit.

With this construction, since the rotation angle of the operation imageis increased as the angle of inclination of the operation display unitincreases, the rotation angle of the operation image can be adjusted byadjusting the angle of inclination of the operation display unit. As aresult, operability in operating the operation display unit whileviewing the operation image sideways can be improved.

The support operation executing unit preferably increases the rotationangle of the operation image as the angle of inclination increases.

Since the rotation angle of the operation image is increased as theangle of inclination of the operation display unit increases, therotation angle of the operation image can be adjusted by adjusting theangle of inclination of the operation image. As a result, operability inoperating the operation display unit while viewing the operation imagesideways can be improved.

The support operation executing unit preferably prohibits the operationimage from being rotated until the angle of inclination reaches thepredetermined value or larger.

With this construction, since the operation image to be displayed is notrotated unless the operation display unit is inclined by thepredetermined angle or more, the operability of the user wishing tooperate the operation image while slightly inclining the operationdisplay unit from the front side of the image forming apparatus can beimproved.

The support operation executing unit preferably displays the operationimage while rotating a partial image of the operation image.

With this construction, since only the partial image of the operationimage is displayed while being rotated, a situation where the operationimage partly comes out of a display area if being entirely rotated canbe prevented and operability can be improved.

It is preferable that the partial image is operation buttons havinground contours and the support operation executing unit displays theoperation buttons while rotating the operation buttons about the centersthereof.

With this construction, since only the operation buttons in circles aredisplayed while being rotated, this can prevent the operation image frombeing displayed while being left out.

In the above construction, the image forming apparatus further comprisesthe mode setting section for setting either the mode for rotating theoperation image according to the angle of inclination or the mode forprohibiting the rotation of the operation image according to the angleof inclination in accordance with an operation command from the user.

With this construction, since the mode for rotating the operation imageaccording to the angle of inclination and the mode for prohibiting therotation of the operation image according to the angle of inclinationcan be alternatively set, the needs of the user not wishing to rotatethe operation image at all can be flexibly met.

In the above construction, it is preferable that the detecting unitdetects the first position where the operation display unit is at thespecified angle to the horizontal plane and the second position wherethe operation display unit is at an angle larger to the horizontal planethan at the first position, and that the support operation executingunit sets a higher visibility of the operation image when the operationdisplay unit is at the second position than when the operation displayunit is at the first position.

With this construction, the displayed state of the operation image ischanged to set the higher visibility of the operation image to bedisplayed on the operation display unit when the operation display unitis at the second position than when the operation display unit is at thefirst position. Thus, sufficient visibility and operability of theoperation display unit can be ensured both for physically normal peoplewho use the image forming apparatus with the operation display unit setat the first position and for physically handicapped people who use theimage forming apparatus with the operation display unit set at thesecond position.

In the above construction, the support operation executing unitpreferably enlarges the operation image to be displayed larger on theoperation display unit when the operation display unit is at the secondposition than when the operation display unit is at the first position.

With this construction, since the operation image is enlarged to bedisplayed larger on the operation display unit when the operationdisplay unit is at the second position than when the operation displayunit is at the first position, the visibility of the operation image canbe improved for physically handicapped people who are inevitably at alonger distance from the operation display unit. As a result, sufficientvisibility and operability of the operation display unit can be ensuredboth for physically normal people who use the image forming apparatuswith the operation display unit set at the second position and forphysically handicapped people who use the image forming apparatus withthe operation display unit set at the first position.

It is preferable that the image forming apparatus further comprises themode selecting section for alternatively selecting the first displaymode for changing the displayed state of the operation image on theoperation display unit when the operation display unit is at the secondposition and the second display mode for not changing the displayedstate of the operation image on the operation display unit even when theoperation display unit is at the second position, and that the supportoperation executing unit enlarges the operation image to be displayedlarger on the operation display unit when the operation display unit isat the second position than when the operation display unit is at thefirst position if the first display mode is selected.

With this construction, the first display mode for changing thedisplayed state of the operation image and the second display mode fornot changing the displayed state of the operation image can bealternatively selected.

It is preferable that the image forming apparatus further comprises therotating device for rotating the operation display unit by changing theangle of inclination of the operation display unit to horizontaldirection, and the support operation executing unit switches theoperation mode either to the normal operation mode or to the powersaving mode and switches the operation mode to the normal operation modewhen the operation display unit is rotated by the rotating device fromthe first state where the operation surface of the operation displayunit horizontally lies to the second state where the operation surfaceis at a larger angle of inclination than in the first state with theoperation mode set to the power saving mode.

With this construction, if the operation display unit is rotated by therotating device with the power saving mode set, the operation mode isreset to the normal operation mode. Accordingly, the user can reset theoperation mode to the normal operation mode without performing anycumbersome operation using the operation display unit. As a result,operability for physically handicapped people can be improved.

In the above construction, the rotating device preferably includes themotor and rotates the operation display unit by the torque of the motor.

With this construction, since the operation display unit is rotated bythe torque of the motor, the operation display unit can be easilyrotated even if the user is feeble. Particularly, operability for userswho operate in wheelchairs can be improved.

In the above construction, the rotating device preferably rotates theoperation display unit by a force exerted on the operation display unitfrom the user.

With this construction, the construction of the apparatus can besimplified since the operation display unit is manually rotated.

It is preferable that the image forming apparatus further comprises therotating device for rotating the operation display unit by changing theangle of inclination of the operation display unit to horizontaldirection and the support operation executing unit registers values setby the user for various items and resets the registered set values tothe defaults for the respective items when the operation display unit isrotated by the rotating device from the first state where the operationsurface of the operation display unit horizontally lies to the secondstate where the operation surface is at a larger angle of inclinationthan in the first state in accordance with the operation commandsreceived by the operation display unit.

With this construction, when the state of the operation display unit ischanged from the first state where the operation surface of theoperation display unit horizontally lies to the second state where theoperation surface is at a larger angle of inclination than in the firststate, the values registered for various items are reset to thedefaults. Thus, there can be prevented a copying error that occurs whena certain user sets values different from the defaults for various itemsand another user starts a copying operation immediately thereafter whiletaking it for granted that the defaults are set for the respectiveitems. Particularly, an occurrence of the above copying error towheel-chaired handicapped people who have difficulty in visuallyconfirming the operation display unit due to their low lines of visioncan be effectively prevented.

In the above construction, the support operation executing unitpreferably includes the mode setting section for setting either the modefor resetting the values registered for the respective items to thedefaults when the operation display unit is rotated from the first stateto the second state or the mode for keeping the set values registeredfor the respective items as they are when the operation display unit isrotated from the first state to the second state in accordance with theoperation command from the user.

With this construction, the needs of the user can be flexibly met sincethe user can select the mode for resetting the values set for therespective items to the defaults or the mode for not resetting them tothe defaults when the operation display unit is rotated from the firststate to the second state.

In the above construction, the rotating device preferably includes themotor and rotates the operation display unit by the torque of the motor.

With this construction, since the operation display unit is rotated bythe torque of the motor, the operation display unit can be easilyrotated even if the user is feeble. Particularly, operability for userswho operate in wheelchairs can be improved.

In the construction, the switch for turning the motor on in accordancewith the operation by the user is preferably arranged below and in thevicinity of the operation display unit.

With this construction, since the switch for rotating the operationdisplay unit is arranged below and in the vicinity of the operationdisplay unit, operability for wheel-chaired users having lower lines ofvision can be improved.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metesand bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds aretherefore intended to embraced by the claims.

This application is based on patent application Nos. 2005-023522,2005-024210, 2005-024475, 2005-065508, 2005-065676 and 2005-065739 filedin Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metesand bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds aretherefore intended to embraced by the claims.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an operation display unitmounted on an apparatus main body such that an angle of inclinationthereof to horizontal direction is adjustable and adapted to displayvarious operation images, a detecting unit for detecting the angle ofinclination of the operation display unit, and a support operationexecuting unit for executing a specified operation to support aphysically handicapped user when the detecting unit detects that thestate of the operation display unit has been adjusted from an initialstate.
 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesupport operation executing unit extends a period up to the execution ofan associated processing relating to the image formation or prohibitsthe associated processing if the detecting unit detects that the stateof the operation display unit has been adjusted from the initial state.3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theassociated processing relating to the image formation is an automaticclear processing for automatically resetting an input value relating tothe image formation, which is a value different from an initial valueand entered to the operation display unit, to the initial value upon thelapse of a predetermined period after an entry operation.
 4. An imageforming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the associatedprocessing is a power saving processing for setting a power saving stateof reducing or shutting off the power supply to a specified mechanisminstalled in the image forming apparatus.
 5. An image forming apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising an image forming assembly forforming an image on a recording sheet based on an image data, and afixing unit for fixing the image formed in the image forming assembly tothe recording sheet, wherein the power saving processing is a transitionprocessing to a preheating mode for reducing the power supply to thefixing unit.
 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe power saving processing is a transition processing to a sleep modefor reducing or shutting off the power supply to a specified mechanismincluding the operation display unit.
 7. An image forming apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein: the detecting unit detects a firstposition where the operation display unit is at a specified angle to ahorizontal plane and a second position where the operation display unitis at a larger angle to the horizontal plane than when being at thefirst position, and the support operation executing unit executes theassociated processing or cancels the execution of the associatedprocessing upon the lapse of a second period longer than a first period,which is a period up to the execution of the associated processing whenthe operation display unit is at the first position, when the operationdisplay unit is at the second position, and executes the associatedprocessing after resetting the period up to the execution of theassociated processing to the first period when the operation displayunit is returned from the second position to the first position.
 8. Animage forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: the associatedprocessing is an automatic clear processing, the image forming apparatusfurther comprises a function mode selecting section for alternativelyselecting: a first function mode for executing the associated processingor canceling the execution of the associated processing upon the lapseof the second period when the operation display unit is at the secondposition and executing the associated processing after resetting theperiod up to the execution of the associated processing to the firstperiod when the operation display unit is returned from the secondposition to the first position, and a second function mode for executingthe automatic clear processing upon the lapse of the first period evenwhen the operation display unit is at the second position.
 9. An imageforming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the operation displayunit includes a drive source for selecting moving the operation displayunit to the first position and to the second position, and the imageforming apparatus further comprises: a drive source controlling sectionfor controlling the operation of the drive source to move the operationdisplay unit from the first position to the second position whilereturning the operation display unit from the second position to thefirst position if no copying operation has started although apredetermined period elapsed after a movement of the operation displayunit to the second position or if a predetermined period has elapsedafter the completion of the copying operation, and a period settingsection for changing the predetermined period up to the return of theoperation display unit from the second position to the first position.10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplayed state of the operation image is changed to increase thevisibility of the operation image to be displayed on the operationdisplay unit when the detecting unit detects that the state of theoperation display unit has been changed from the initial state.
 11. Animage forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the detectingunit detects the angle of inclination of the operation display unit, andthe support operation executing unit causes the operation image to bedisplayed on the operation display unit while rotating the operationimage according to the angle of inclination of the operation displayunit.
 12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein thesupport operation executing unit increases the rotation angle of theoperation image as the angle of inclination increases.
 13. An imageforming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support operationexecuting unit prohibits the operation image from being rotated untilthe angle of inclination reaches a predetermined value or larger.
 14. Animage forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the supportoperation executing unit displays the operation image while rotating apartial image of the operation image.
 15. An image forming apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the partial image includes operationbuttons having round contours, and the support operation executing unitdisplays the operation buttons while rotating the operation buttonsabout the centers thereof.
 16. An image forming apparatus according toclaim 11, further comprising a mode setting section for setting either amode for rotating the operation image according to the angle ofinclination or a mode for prohibiting the operation image from beingrotated according to the angle of inclination in accordance with anoperation command from the user.
 17. An image forming apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein: the detecting unit detects a firstposition where the operation display unit is at a specified angle to ahorizontal plane and a second position where the operation display unitis at a larger angle to the horizontal plane than when being at thefirst position, and the support operation executing unit sets a highervisibility of the operation image when the operation display unit is atthe second position than when the operation display unit is at the firstposition.
 18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, whereinthe support operation executing unit enlarges the operation image to bedisplayed larger on the operation display unit when the operationdisplay unit is at the second position than when the operation displayunit is at the first position.
 19. An image forming apparatus accordingto claim 17, further comprising a mode selecting section foralternatively selecting a first display mode for changing the displayedstate of the operation image on the operation display unit when theoperation display unit is at the second position and a second displaymode for not changing the displayed state of the operation image on theoperation display unit even when the operation display unit is at thesecond position, wherein the support operation executing unit enlargesthe operation image to be displayed larger on the operation display unitwhen the operation display unit is at the second position than when theoperation display unit is at the first position if the first displayedmode is selected.
 20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a rotating device for rotating the operation displayunit by changing the angle of inclination of the operation display unitto horizontal direction, wherein the support operation executing unitswitches an operation mode either to a normal operation mode or to apower saving mode and switches the operation mode to the normaloperation mode when the operation display unit is rotated by therotating device from a first state where an operation surface of theoperation display unit horizontally lies to a second state where theangle of inclination is larger than in the first state with theoperation mode set to the power saving mode.
 21. An image formingapparatus according to claim 20, wherein the rotating device includes amotor and rotates the operation display unit by a driving force of themotor.
 22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein therotating device lets the operation display unit rotated by a forceexerted to the operation display unit by the user.
 23. An image formingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating device forrotating the operation display unit by changing the angle of inclinationof the operation display unit to horizontal direction, wherein thesupport operation executing unit registers values set by the user forvarious items and resets the registered set values to defaults for therespective items when the operation display unit is rotated by therotating device from a first state where an operation surface of theoperation display unit horizontally lies to a second state where theoperation surface is at a larger angle of inclination than in the firststate in accordance with operation commands received by the operationdisplay unit.
 24. An image forming apparatus according to claim 23,further comprising a mode setting section for setting either a mode forresetting the set values registered for the respective items to thedefaults when the operation display unit is rotated from the first stateto the second state or a mode for keeping the set values registered forthe respective items as they are when the operation display unit isrotated from the first state to the second state in accordance with theoperation commands received by the operation display unit.
 25. An imageforming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the rotating deviceincludes a motor and rotates the operation display unit by a drivingforce of the motor.
 26. An image forming apparatus according to claim25, wherein a switch for turning the motor on in accordance with anoperation by the user is arranged below and in the vicinity of theoperation display unit.